Author's Note:
Hey everyone! Welcome back! Don't forget to review the last chapter before you read this one, or maybe you can review both at the end of this chapter since they are both short. I'm not happy with this chapter. I had a hard time balancing details of the scene and dialogue pacing and this chapter is way too short. I will probably use this chapter as a place to add backstories if I discover I need them later on in the story. Normally I would spend all day coming up with some to throw in, but I'm just really out of it today. We had a really bad storm come through out of nowhere last night. Streets flooded, lightning flashes two to three times every second, hail, and a lot of fallen trees. Anyways, sorry for the short and somewhat unfinished chapter. I'll tell you right now the next two chapters are a lot better. Hopefully you'll enjoy this one regardless, but don't feel bad if you don't.
Today is 6/18/2016 and this chapter is 800+ words.
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon, just dream it.
Chapter 21: OAI
"Paige! ... Paige! Wake Up!"
"Uhhhhh…" Paige groaned.
"Paige! You're alright!" an eevee cheered.
The noon Monday sun briefly peeked from the clouds as the wind signaled signs of the changing season. Along with the wind came sounds of bass-heavy music blasting through the forest from the nearby party. The two eevee and flareon had found a concealed clearing to allow for Paige's recovery.
"No I'm not!" Paige refuted, tossing over. "I just got beat by a member of Kieren's cult of stupid!"
"Enough with the arrogance!" Andy scolded. "They're a tough bunch. That vulpix girl's got a wicked flamethrower. We all know what Trent is capable of, and Kat proved today that she is not one to mess with. I wouldn't be surprised if Caleb was hiding a similar caliber of tough."
"Hiding? His muscles were popping out of his skin!" Connor contended.
"Fair point," Andy admitted.
"Ugh. So are we done with those losers now?" Paige whined.
"Hold on! I'm still totally out of the loop here. What was that nightmare thing about?" Connor asked.
"You never heard?" Andy asked in disbelief.
Connor shook his head.
"Well, I will keep it short," Andy announced. "A few years ago, the tribe attacked Kieren when he refused to give up his alpha birthright. Trent had his leg snapped when he tried to interfere, hence his scar."
"Wow. And I thought Kat had it rough," Connor commented, gazing down at his front paws.
"What are you talking about? Kieren is cursed!" Paige argued, nearly slapping him with her tail.
"Perhaps," Connor gave in. "There's no arguing until we learn what Kieren is and why."
"And that's Trent's job," Andy asserted. "It was in our agreement. Right now our focus is Kat."
"Still?" Paige cried. "Didn't she already say she had no interest joining us?"
"We still haven't apologized," Andy answered sternly.
"You haven't. Count me out," Paige scoffed, already walking away.
"Fine," Andy replied. "Let's head back to the party before the late risers arrive."
It had been an hour of stories and tears since Andy and company had left, and fortunately, the tales were becoming more and more humorous lightening the mood. Trent and Kat had started reenacting some of the stories which was leading into the topic of Kieren's talent for nailing impressions.
"I've always remembered when your dad mistook him for Solano while he was telling Drake about how Solano and Bella were walking together and Bella accidently nudged him down the hill into the lake," Caleb recalled.
"Haha. I remember that, and then he perfectly matched Drake's reaction in time," Trent added. "Impression's Legit!"
"Melody. What's wrong?" Kat asked the staring vulpix.
"Oh, nothing," Melody answered softly without altering her stare. "I was just recalling our adventure golfing, when he was telling me about his grandfather."
"Really? How did that come up?" Trent asked, nearly spewing fire in excitement.
"Well, to be honest, before then, I didn't really know much about how your tribe traditions work and such," Melody confessed. "So I was asking him about some of those things and it just came up." Her face firmed tense as her thoughts drifted. "Which reminds me, we still don't know what he is and I need to go find him and make sure he is alright. What are your plans?"
"Hmm. I'm afraid I don't have one yet," Trent contemplated. Melody turned towards the forest exit while Trent and Kat stared at the ground in thought. Before she could leave though, Kat broke the silence.
"Hey Trent?"
"Yea. What is it?" Trent asked, waking from his mental paralysis.
"When you talked with the lapras, did they say anything about Celestia?" Kat asked inquisitively. Her ears perked as Trent's blank expression morphed into an anticipating grin. Melody, half stride towards the forest, turned back towards the group in curiosity.
"Yea!" Trent confided. "Tara said Celestia tells her everything!" He beckoned the others in close. "So here's the deal. Celestia has her hands full at the moment with the party and everything. We need to delay her conversation with Tara as long as possible until we have a way of intercepting the information. For now on, we'll take shifts occupying the shoreline. I'll guard the place when Kat leaves for her studies. Caleb, can I count on you to cover the afternoons?" Caleb nodded. "At least one of those two must know something, so we can't afford to let their exchange pass. In the meantime, keep an eye out for Drake. If you catch him, see if he knows what's up. He's been oddly addicted to his research as of late."
"Right," Kat responded.
"Not to be a party pooper, but what if Celestia finds out?" Melody asked.
"We need a code word for this mission," Kat decided.
"What would humans use for something like this?" Caleb asked Melody.
"Hmm. Abbreviations maybe?" Melody contemplated, biting her lip. "How about O.A.I.?"
"Weird," Kat commented.
"What does it stand for?" Caleb asked.
"Operation Alpha Intel."
"What's intel?" Caleb queried.
"Intelligence," Kat and Trent both answered.
"I like it!" Kat beamed. "Operation Alpha Intel shall start in
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1…"
Author's Note: Yep. Totally a short chapter. I hope you found it worth your time reading regardless. Don't forget about bonus chapter opportunities and the name submissions. Stay safe this summer, and do your best to enjoy it! ~Dreaming I'm Latios